By Pastor Stephen Hess –
Many Christians have been following the news about EPC pastor Andrew Brunson who has been wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey since October of 2016. As I write this article it has just been announced that Andrew has been moved from prison to house arrest, however, the ultimate outcome of his case remains unresolved. During a recent court hearing on July 18, Andrew gave a powerful testimony in which he publicly forgave those who falsely testified against him, and then he said these words: “It is a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ. Blessed am I, as I suffer for Him. Blessed am I, as I am slandered. Blessed am I, as I am being lied about. Blessed am I, as I am imprisoned. Blessed am I, as I share His suffering.” What gives a man the ability to say these words in such dark circumstances?
What many people don’t realize is that Andrew’s words were deeply Biblical. It was Jesus who said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil falsely against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:10-12). When a person decides to follow Jesus, they will face opposition from the world. In some cases, this opposition can come in the form of persecution like what Andrew has experienced. In many places around the world today people are killed for following Jesus. Why is all this—according to Jesus—a blessing? The answer is that the reward we receive for following Jesus is far greater than what we may lose in this life. That reward is eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The path that Jesus took was a path of suffering on his way to glory. The Bible makes clear that this path is no different for Christians. If we are going to follow in the footsteps of our Savior, we too need to be prepared to suffer for his sake. As Paul says in Philippians, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have” (Phil. 1:29-30). Or as Peter says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Pet. 4:12-13). When we suffer for Christ we become more like him and follow him on our pathway to glory.
One of the Biblical realities that modern Christians often overlook is the way that God is glorified and the gospel is proclaimed through our suffering. When we encounter a situation like Andrew’s we often ask questions like: “Why would God allow a faithful pastor to be wrongfully imprisoned?” or “Why doesn’t God answer our prayers for Andrew’s release?” These questions overlook the fact that it is sometimes through our trials and persecutions that God is most glorified. When Andrew stood before the judge and said, “It is a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ” he was sending the world a powerful message. That message was that Jesus is such a magnificent Savior that he is worth going to prison for, and he is even worth dying for. Jesus is worthy of our lives not because of what comforts he can give us, but simply because of who he is. What a powerful witness to the gospel!
I join with millions of other Christians who are praying for Andrew’s release, and I hope that release comes soon. But I also know that much like the Apostle Paul, God can use Andrew’s life, whether in prison or out of prison, to proclaim the gospel. From a worldly perspective, Andrew’s life right now is full of loss. But from an eternal perspective, he can rejoice because no matter what tomorrow brings, his reward is great in heaven.